On July 17, 2014 at 8:27 a.m. Crawford County 911 Center received a call of two males on the Burlington Northern Railroad right of way near 560 Avenue/K7 Hwy intersection. The caller reported that the suspects were cutting wire off of railroad utility poles and hauling it away. The caller was able to provide dispatch with a vehicle description as they left the area.

The occupants of the vehicle- Terrell L. Pepper, 32 of Pittsburg and Patrick E. Orender, 45 of Pittsburg were placed into custody. Pepper and Orender were each charged with Felony Theft and Trespassing on Railroad Property. Bond for each is $3000.

The incident remains under investigation by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Burlington Northern Railroad officials.

On June 3, 2014 at 8:16 p.m., Crawford County dispatch was notified by Pittsburg Police of an explosion and fire at 1282 S. 220 Street south of Pittsburg.

A neighbor advised deputies that Mark McAtee, 26 of rural Girard, came to the door needing assistance. McAtee was suffering from burns to his hands, legs and face after a propane tank on a motorhome exploded. McAtee reported to deputies that he had lit a stove in the motorhome when the explosion occurred. McAtee was transported to Via Christi Medical Center then later to the KU Medical Center Burn Unit.

An investigation by fire officials indicates the explosion was accidental.

Responding to the call were units from Baker Fire Department and Crawford County EMS.

The 1987 Toyota motorhome is registered to Sherry Lynn Dodd of Joplin, MO.

On April 7, 2014 at 7:34 p.m., a Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to make a traffic stop in the Girard area on two speeding motorcycles. The operators attempted to elude the deputy travelling southbound out of Girard. The pursuit continued to 570 Ave and 190 St, where the operators separated with one going west and the other going south. The deputy continued the pursuit of the southbound motorcycle.

Near the intersection of 560 Ave and 190 St, the operator lost control of the motorcycle on gravel and crashed. The operator- Antonio Alcorn, 20 of Gardner, KS was transported by Crawford County EMS for unknown injuries. Alcorn was cited for Fleeing and Eluding, Reckless Driving and Failure to Stop at Posted Stop Signs. The second motorcyclist has not been located.

On February 27, 2014 at 10:00 p.m. Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to 303 Brunetti in McCune, KS regarding a domestic dispute over child custody. Prior to deputies’ arrival witnesses allege that one of the parties- Jasper Loren Hedges, 32 of Elk City, KS left the residence after taking several weapons that were not his.

Hedges was located by deputies in a Ford truck northwest of McCune. After a vehicle pursuit, Hedges was apprehended near 40th Street and 540th Avenue. Hedges was charged with suspicion of-

NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF UNITED STATES ATTORNEY BARRY GRISSOM
DISTRICT OF KANSAS
Contact Jim Cross, Public Affairs ! (316) 269-6481 ! 301 N. Main, Suite 1200 ! Wichita, KS 67202
www.usdoj.gov/usao/ks
Feb. 18, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Crawford County Man Arrested
On Federal Firearm Charge
WICHITA, KAN. B A man from Crawford County, Kan., was arrested Tuesday on federal firearm charges, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.
James D. Russian, 56, Pittsburg, Kan., is charged in U.S. District Court in Wichita with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition after a felony conviction. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Nov. 27, 2013, in Crawford County.
The indictment alleges Russian unlawfully possessed a 9 mm handgun, 82 rounds of 9 mm ammunition and eighteen 20 gauge shotgun cartridges.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge involving the handgun and a maximum penalty of five years and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge with the ammunition. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.
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